“Intel is preparing to launch its rumored virtual cable TV service and set top box and has a plan to overcome licensing hurdles,” Josh Constine reports for TechCrunch.

“Rather than roll out nationwide, the launch will happen on a city-by-city basis so Intel has more flexibility in negotiating licensing with reluctant content providers, according to a video industry source,” Constine reports. “The Intel box may also eliminate a core frustration with DVRs.”

Constine reports, “The source said that Intel was frustrated with ‘everyone doing a half-assed Google TV so it’s going to do it themselves and do it right.’ The plan is to create a set-top box and subscription TV service that would appeal to people who want streaming TV access but don’t want to entirely cut the cable cord and lose key content like sports.”

Another company getting it wrong flogging and flagellating themselves into yet another failed product. People are understanding they need to trust companies who do this and so far only Apple engenders this kind of trust. Google and Intel TV join the pantheon of craptastic tech failures before their products ever hit the shelves. Nothing remotely warm and fuzzy about those guys.

Where are these cities that have “looser franchise agreements with cable companies which would allow some experimentation” with bypassing content restrictions between networks and cable TV providers? This is the craziest end-of-year tech pundit babble I’ve ever heard, and it started at TechCrunch. Can’t get behind the Wall Street Journal paywall to see if it actually began there.

Trust your gut, commun5. Follow the breadcrumbs from TechCrunch to WSJ… The Journal uses breadcrumbs, so pigeons eat ’em, “deposit ’em” and leave only droppings scattered about that don’t lead back to anywhere…
Casino crapitalism hard at work…